LEAF launched to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles

India's push toward electric mobility received a boost on Monday with the launch of a new industry group aimed at improving charging infrastructure for smaller electric vehicles.

The Light Electric-Vehicle Acceleration Forum (LEAF) has been set up as a neutral platform bringing together companies from across the electric two-wheeler and three-wheeler ecosystem. Its main goal is to make EV charging simpler, more reliable, and widely accessible, key factors needed to encourage more people to switch to electric vehicles.

The initiative was inaugurated by Union Heavy Industries Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy. The forum plans to work closely with government departments and regulators to help expand charging networks in line with national policy goals.

A major focus area for LEAF will be improving interoperability, ensuring that EV users can easily charge their vehicles across different networks without confusion or compatibility issues. Industry players believe this is crucial to reducing "charging anxiety," one of the biggest concerns among potential EV buyers.

Efforts are already underway to standardise charging systems. One such development is the Light Electric Combined Charging System (LECCS), which supports both slow and fast charging using a single connector. Approved under Indian standards, this system is expected to improve communication between charging stations and vehicles, making the overall experience smoother for users.

The forum was created through a partnership between Hero MotoCorp, Ather Energy, and IPEC India, which will serve as its initial steering committee. At launch, more than 20 organisations including manufacturers, charging operators, suppliers, and software companies, joined the platform. Membership is expected to grow in the coming months.

Industry experts say the next phase of EV growth in India will depend heavily on solving charging-related challenges, such as fragmented networks and inconsistent user experiences. By bringing stakeholders together and promoting common standards, LEAF aims to build a more connected and dependable public charging ecosystem across the country.